Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-08

RECORDER MATTHEW CASE.
Message - The senate % sAe PrssaAsns
TIE HISTORY Or Hl svlcn REJECTED xsMixAnoS
TOLD - FORMAL REPLY 10 sHs rnnsGpsSTs
MESSAGE.
the rejection o. James c. Matthew a. Albany,
NOV YORK. nontnsted TO be recorder OF deeds Of the
DISTRICT Of Columbia, has been sent 70 the Presa-
cent oy the Senate which at the same time 10
moved the injunction Of secrecy from the vote, and
al the papers relating 70 the case. Tho papers
comprise the formal resolution OF the senate 70.
1octing the nomination upon which the vote seood
81 10 A, as follows: Yeas-Aiiison, blackburn.
bowen' Chase, Coke. Conger, CullonL DaweS
Hdmun0s. Eustis. KvaYts, German, HaHley, Hoar'
Ingalls,. Jones, OF Nevada; Mcmillan, Mahone
Horga1, Palmer, Plumb. Pugh, Ransom, sauls
D Tgn, sawyer, Seweli sherman, Spooner, vance,
w Wilson, OF Iowa-3l: Nays-Beck, Bali,
Hampton. Harris, Jones, OF Arkansas; Mcpherson,
, niscneh OF OREGON. Payne. Vest Walthall whit
Cameron, Gray, and Kenna have announced that
they would have voted In the negative had they
oeen present and not paired and Messrs Mander:
that they would have voted IN the afimstive.
Inc iolowing document, prepared by senator
lnGs s6o ana offered In the form Of resolut,on.
rejection to the President.
'Jemes c. Matthew'S OF New York was ncmi-
D q O Oe tSs psse o. q ses
Douglass, resigned. This nomination was rejected
ny the Senate July 81, 1850 Immediately after
lee6 the President appointed James c. Matthews
% tns once Coz which he had been rejected by the
SENATE and he continued In the discharge Of Its
day q December 1854 the President again nomi-
mated james G. MatthewR OF New York, 70 be re-
corder Of deeds In the District OF Columbia In the
Tko1pn In In
message 70 the senate OF March 1, 1850 relative
TO papers on Tile and other information touching
President. among other tnines said: TSpon re-
fuSal TO confirm, shall not assume the night to
ask the reasons for the action OF the senate, nor
anything more is required to secure worthy in.
cumoentsin public Ofice than careful and indie
pendent discharge Of our respective duties within
the nomination OF Matthews being apparently
not strictly Ia accord with these declarations Of
tne PRESIDENT and being the only instance OF q
person rejected by the senate who has been reap
pointed and again nominated for the same ONCE
under this administration, the President constd-
ere0 the event OF SUFFICIENT consequence to ac-
company the transmission OF the nomination
lDec. n, 1881 with the following statement In
justification OF his action:
ut its last session. upon the retirement of the prevt-
GUS incumbent, who for q number OF years had
held the ONCE 70 which It refers In the last days
OF the session the Senate declined TO confirm the
nomination. Opposition to the appointment OF
Mr.. Matthews to the ONCE for which he was named
was developed among the citizens OF the District
nominee was not resident Of the bstict .A and IL
Is supposed that such opposition, to some extent
been In occupancy OF the ONCE to which he was
nominated for more than four months, and he
has In the performance OF the duties thereof won
the approval OF those having business TO transact
with such Office, and has rendered important ser.
vice In rescuing the records OF the District from
loss ana liegibility: am informed that his man
opposition to his appointment which heretofore
existed. have ventured, therefore, in view OF
with the understanding that the Objections here
tofore urged against his selection have TO great
extent subsidized. and cOnfesstng desire to Co
just recognition and the utmost good faith. to
again submit this nomination TO the Senate for
confirmation, at the same time diSclaimtng any In
tention TO question Its previous action In the
The Senate does not consider that it Is required
either TO admit or to deny the propnety or the
to the reasons by which it was guided in dc
cltning to confirm the original nomination, The
President attempts TO justify the denomination Of
nominee has been demonstrated. 2. That the
previous opposition TO his appointment among
the citizens Of the District has largely subHded
recognition and good faith toward our colored
fellow citizens
II Is suilicisns answer to the nrst two reasons
alleged TO say that neither could have been APP
picable when Matthew's was appointed In August,
Immediately after the adtournarnent OF the senate
nor had Issre Ssn n any iOt or s
opposition to subside. Until suggested by the
President, the senate was not aware that
s sSe ssn to eoIored
never before been 'n urged that PERSONS
nation for an Office should be confirmed or rejected
because he black because WAS white
This classification has been abolished by the sup
preston OF the rebellion and by the amendments
be recognized in dealing with public affairs The
Senate, however, In view OF the message Of the
Psss.dsn5 can iGroesr to sppss him. since he
was, It is understood, requested to resign the
Office OF recorder of deeds In the District or Col
amDa IN 0 70 sna5 James night oe
Douglass is the most distinguished representative
OF the cOored race, not In this country only, but
been rendered to our coIored feIlow-cirizens by
the retention OF Frederick Douglass, rather than
by mis- enforced retirement In order 10 reward an
been a slave, and therefore represented the
enfranchised race only by the accident Of
color. The devotion OF the President to
colored race might have been equally tested, and
''goOd faith" might have been as strongly evfnced,
by the retention OF Douglass In the ONCE, whose
the people, unless 1t is 70 be understood that just
recognition" Ii 10 be rendered only TO those men,
bers OF that race who are supposed TO entertain
Issue OF race disappears, and the test is politics.
The senate has no ofiicial information, other
than that contained in the message OF the Presi-
dent, whether Matthew's is white Or black. He is
admitted to be citizen OF New York. The Ollice
TO which he Is nominated is strictly local. The
not paid by the government, but mainly by.citi-
zens of the District having papers TO be recorded
therein: His continuation Is opposed with cub.
pIynff fha vfS.f